Thursday, July 19, 2012

Appraising
and authenticating antiquities are two distinct processes which help in the
understanding of the objects themselves. In the best case scenario, the
appraiser and the authenticator work together to form a complete picture of what
the item is, where it came from, the date of creation,
the condition, and the value.

Appraising

Appraisers
come from a variety of educational backgrounds and possess numerous specialties.
Although most appraisers are not experts in every field, they do have an
understanding of how to research a variety of items to determine their origin
and monetary value. Appraisers invariably spend hours scouring auction results,
galleries, and libraries for the information about an object. Furthermore, they
often depend on connections in academia, archaeology, galleries and auction
houses to help them come to a conclusion about the items they are appraising. An
appraiser’s ultimate goal is to put a value on the work which properly reflects
the market.In the United States, there
are three major appraisal organizations:Appraisers Association of America, American Society of Appraisers, and
International Society of Appraisers. Each of these organizations has a
searchable database of well trained professionals who were admitted by passing
qualifying exams or other processes. Below are the most common elements of a
properly prepared antiquities appraisal.

Elements
of a Properly Prepared Antiquities Appraisal

• Item

A
brief description of the type of item being appraised.For example, “Ptolemaic Ceramic Oil Lamp.”

•
Size

An
accurate measurement of the length, width, and height of the
item.

•
MediumThe
materials used to create the antiquity.•
Signature or MarkingsAny
mark that might give additional information which is located directly on the
antiquity.

• Date
of Creation

Ifthe exact
date is unknown, dating the item to a period or a range of years. For example, “Circa 150 BCE to 50 CE.”•
Condition

Inspect
the piece for rust, cracks, deterioration, and wear.

•
Provenance

Research
and list any known owners of the work, when and where it was acquired, and the
original location and date of discovery.Authenticating

Authentication
of antiquities can be complicated since it takes a comprehensive understanding
of scientific methods, the latest academic research, and a personal knowledge of
the expected attributes. Like appraisers, authenticators come from a variety of
backgrounds. They may specialize in scientific analysis, documentation, and
connoisseurship. An authentication company may have a variety of experts on
staff each of whom may weigh in on an item in their particular area. Below is a
detailed explanation of the more common scientific and research
methods.

Scientific
Authentication

•
Thermoluminescence (TL)

This
method can tell the observer how much time has elapsed since the clay was fired.
In this process, the clay is heated to a high temperature. Once it reaches that
temperature a faint violet blue light is emitted and then measured using a
sensitive detector.

•
Radiocarbon Dating

This
type of dating is an absolute dating technique. It works by determining the
ratio of radiocarbon against stable carbon in the sample. All living organisms
are made of carbon. A very small amount of this carbon is C-14 which is unstable
and radioactive. When the organism dies it disintegrates at a known rate thus
making it easier for scientists to determine the age.

•
Computer Tomography (CT Scanning)

Although
this process does not scientifically date an antiquity it does give an overall
3-dimensional image. This information can provide information concerning
previous repairs, oxidation, deterioration, and the techniques used to actually
make the work.

Researched
Authentication

•
Provenance

Researching
the original place of purchase and the history of ownership of an antiquity is
important.Knowing that the piece was in
the collection of a scholar or major collector helps others understand that the
item is what it is purported to be. Further, documented evidence of when and
where the antiquity was originally found may help establish the age of the
piece.

•
Scholarly References and Attributes

This
step is always important but it becomes even more important if the antiquity
does not have a strong provenance. Sending photos of the antiquity to an
archaeologist, scholar in the field, or a dealer who regularly examines such
items to verify the item has the correct attributes is an important
step.

ABOUT THE APPRAISER

Christian Trabue is an art, antiques, and collectibles appraiser and a member of the Appraisers Association of America. She lives and works in Kentucky but completes appraisals in other parts of the country as well. Ms. Trabue completed her undergraduate degree in art history at Centre College, attended the University of Louisville for her graduate work in art history and, received a certificate in Personal Property Appraisal from New York University. She is a member of the Appraisers Association of America (AAA) and has taken and passed the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). In January of 2009 she joined Enservio Select as a fine art and antiques appraiser.